October 23: FIFA kicks off its new U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday, bringing together 189 national associations for a six-day event that falls somewhere between a youth development tournament and a global engagement exercise.
The scale is the main talking point. Of the 189 teams expected in Azerbaijan, 78 had never participated in any FIFA World Cup competition at senior or youth, men’s or women’s level.
They include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Botswana, Cyprus, Georgia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia and Zimbabwe, among a long list of associations being given their first taste of FIFA-branded global competition.
To score it in a World Cup is to stretch the field of the tournament.
There are no knockout rounds and all teams play until the last day. Matches are eight-a-side, played over two 20-minute halves on smaller pitches with substitutions and kick-offs.
A three-day qualifying phase then feeds teams into six different tiers for another three days of competition, with only the winner of tier A crowned overall champion.
The children’s event is open to players born in 2011 or 2012 and is part of FIFA’s growing ambition to position itself in youth football.
The 211 member associations were invited, and 189 accepted. A women’s edition will follow in 2027 before FIFA switches to annual boys’ and girls’ tournaments from 2028.
“This World Cup/Festival is an amazing and truly ambitious project,” said Roberto Grassi, FIFA’s head of youth tournaments.
“We chose the phrase ‘World Cup/Festival’ because we are talking about young players, they are not professionals, and we wanted these days to be a pleasure for all of them.”
This development message is central to the format. Teams will also take part in educational activities, meet former players and take part in awareness campaigns, while many of the players will travel abroad and represent their countries for the first time.
Most matches will take place at the Hovsan Competition Complex, with the Baku Crystal Hall hosting the opening ceremony and the final. All the teams stay together in the same athlete village.
Azerbaijan will also host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at (email protected)
